K9 Cop Ends Standoff With Knife-Wielding Man In San Clemente

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — A potentially-suicidal man armed with a knife was taken into custody in San Clemente Thursday, Orange County Sheriff's Department reported.

Deputies were called to the 100 block of West Mariposa just after 10 a.m. about a man wielding a knife and threatening to take his own life, according to Orange County sheriff's Sgt. Dennis Breckner.

The caller was concerned that the man, whose name was not released, intended to commit "suicide by cop."

Officers arrived to find a 36-year-old shirtless man standing in the middle of the street with a knife. He refused to drop the knife or back down, according to reports.

Deputies "tried everything, including less-lethal force" with bean bag shots, until ultimately, they released a K9 officer to help disarm the man and diffuse the situation, according to Breckner.

The man was taken to an area hospital to be treated for a dog bite and undergo a psychological examination.

The K9 officer was not harmed in the exchange.